Which of the following is NOT a valid way to disburse funds from an auction escrow account?

Disbursing funds from an auction escrow account must follow certain legal and ethical guidelines to ensure fairness and accountability in transactions. One of these fundamental principles is that funds cannot be disbursed based solely on the auctioneer's decision. This prevents any potential for conflict of interest or mismanagement of clients' funds.

The auctioneer acts as a fiduciary and has a responsibility to protect the interests of all parties involved in the auction. Therefore, valid disbursement methods such as settlement at closing, written agreements by all parties, or court orders provide a transparent and legally binding framework that upholds the integrity of the auction process. These methods ensure that funds are only released when all parties are in agreement, or there is a clear legal directive, minimizing risks associated with unilateral decisions.